Mock Draft Monday: Are the Minnesota Timberwolves one good draft pick away from being good?

The most notable trade the Minnesota Timberwolves made at the trade deadline was the trade they made to land D'Angelo Russell from the Golden State Warriors. By getting a ball dominant All-Star level guard to play with their franchise center Karl-Anthony Towns, the Timberwolves feel they are back in business. Or at least close to being back in business.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski, the #Warriors are trading D'Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans, and Omari Spellman to the #Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick. Wolves’ 2021 pick is protected to No. 3 & becomes unprotected in 2022. #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) February 7, 2020

One other piece of the puzzle for the Timberwolves is whoever they draft in the 2020 NBA draft. At the moment, they are projected to get the #5 pick, which means there is the real possibility that they could land the #1 pick in the lottery. Even if they don't get the #1 pick, they're still positioned well to add a really talented player to their team next year. I like Georgia freshman guard Anthony Edwards a lot and think he would be a great addition to this young Wolves team. You give them a talented shooting guard alongside Russell and they really could be cooking with gas.

Of course, Edwards isn't the only rookie that could fill that need for them. Washington freshman small forward Jaden McDaniels is another great option for the Wolves that should be available if they are picking 5th. He would bring athleticism out on the wing and also play well alongside Russell in the backcourt.

                                          (Credit: Frank Gunn. Canadian Press) 

The Timberwolves injected some new life into their team by getting Russell and can now look ahead to the 2020 NBA draft with some additional excitement. Over these next few months, their front office needs to do their due diligence to make sure they find the right fit for their team and prepare for the likelihood that they don't get a top three pick. Provided they do that, their future looks to be very bright.

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Saturday Slam: Will Andrew Wiggins thrive in Golden State?

                                          (Credit: John Hefti-Associated Press) 


The biggest trade made at the deadline was the Minnesota Timberwolves trading Andrew Wiggins to the Golden State Warriors, getting D'Angelo Russell back in return.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski, the #Warriors are trading D'Angelo Russell, Jacob Evans, and Omari Spellman to the #Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick and a 2021 second-round pick. Wolves’ 2021 pick is protected to No. 3 & becomes unprotected in 2022. #NBA

— NBA Lord (@nba_lord) February 7, 2020

When the Warriors got Russell, many assumed he was going to be used as a trade chip due to the fact that they already had two other ball dominant guards in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Those assumptions turned out to be correct as the Warriors did in fact move him to get a better fit in Wiggins: Another wing that can play alongside Curry and Thompson.

In his 6th year in the NBA, Wiggins is averaging 22.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He's putting up solid numbers, but the Timberwolves felt a more ball dominant guard like Russell would be a better fit alongside Karl-Anthony Towns, who has emerged as their franchise player. The Warriors conversely felt Wiggins would be a better complimentary piece around the players that they already have.

Considering their recent championship success, Golden State is a perfect fit for Wiggins, who had been stuck in a losing environment in Minnesota. He gets to be around a winning culture and be more of a complimentary piece as opposed to dealing with the pressures of being the go-to player. Once Curry and Thompson come back, he'll give the Warriors a solid third/fourth option alongside Draymond Green, bring athleticism out on the wing, and solid defense. It'll be interesting to see how this goes once the Warriors are back to full strength.

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Saturday Slam: The Minnesota Timberwolves need to do some soul searching

As you've probably heard by now, the Minnesota Timberwolves fired Tom Thibodeau, who was serving both as head coach and president of basketball operations. Ryan Saunders, son of the late Flip Saunders, has taken over head coaching duties with the interim tag. Under Thibodeau, the Timberwolves had some success, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Unfortunately, his management style clashed with the rest of the organization, both on the court and in the front office. Star players felt overworked and disrespected while the front office felt he wasn't willing to adapt.

Increased fan apathy in Minnesota -- with critical season tickets renewal period approaching, sources say -- was undeniable factor in Tom Thibodeau's inevitable firing. On Thibodeau and the business of basketball: pic.twitter.com/Qm2Tx5wjWM

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 7, 2019  

While the reasons for firing Thibodeau are clear, it shouldn't be forgotten that the Timberwolves did find some success under him. Reaching the playoffs is a big deal for this franchise and not something that they should take lightly. If you want to have more buzz around your franchise, isn't making the playoffs the best remedy to that problem? Ultimately, if they want to justify moving on from Thibodeau, they're going to have to find a coach who is able to get more out of their players and get them back to playing playoff level basketball.

What's a bit puzzling is how quickly things have spun out of control in Minnesota. A year ago, they were on the verge of making the playoffs with Thibodeau at the helm and Jimmy Butler as their veteran superstar. Now, they've shown both Thibodeau and Butler the door, ending an experiment that resulted in a playoff appearance. It feels weird.

With Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins as their key building blocks, the Timberwolves still have a chance to do a lot of damage in the future. The problem is they don't seem to know who they are as a team. At least with Thibodeau and Butler they had an identity, even if it was flawed. Over the next few months, the Timberwolves have to do some soul searching and figure out who they are and what vision they have for the future. If they can't figure that out soon, they could be heading for some dark times.

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Wednesday Windmill: How much better does Jimmy Butler make the Philadelphia 76ers?

The Philadelphia 76ers ended the Jimmy Butler drama by agreeing to acquire the polarizing shooting guard from the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the deal, the 76ers acquired Butler along with Justin Patton while giving up Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and a 2022 second-round pick.  The 76ers made the move with the hopes of improving their chances to reach the NBA Finals while the Timberwolves made the deal with the hopes of returning to a sense of normalcy.

The debut.

📺: @NBCSPhilly
📻: @975TheFanatic
📱: #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/RYNJpiiCZx

— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 14, 2018

While the 76ers should be excited to add another elite player to the fold, they run the risk of messing with their team chemistry. Butler's time in Minnesota was controversial and there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of his ability to help out a team as a result. Butler will need to prove that he is not a head case and that his beef with Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves organization was legit.

Assuming he's able to prove that he can be a good guy in the locker room, Butler should be a nice fit in Philly. He's a 20+ points per game scorer and an excellent defender, averaging 2.4 steals per game this season. Joel Embiid has become one of the most gifted big men of all time while Ben Simmons is blossoming into a B+ version of LeBron James. When you give those guys an elite wing like Jimmy Butler to work with, you're giving them a real shot to reach the NBA Finals and contend for a championship.

Aside from Butler being a problem in the locker room, the biggest concern for the 76ers is their lack of depth. Covington, Saric, and Bayless were solid pieces that gave them a nice bench. With them gone, they're going to have to rely even more on their star players to carry them to victory. It's a calculated risk that they feel is worth taking, but it's still a risk nonetheless. Guys like Wilson Chandler, J.J. Redick, and Markelle Fultz will need to step up and prove that they are capable of handling more of the load as well.

While there's always a risk in making big trades in the middle of a season, I feel like the 76ers are making the right move here. Jimmy Butler is one of the best shooting guards in the NBA and a legitimate All-Star player. If you have the chance to add a guy like him to your team without giving up another All-Star in return, you should do it every time. As far as how the Timberwolves should feel, I think they should feel good about the move. They added some solid role players to their team and can finally focus on building around Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the most promising duos in the league.

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Tomahawk Tuesday: Can the Timberwolves survive without Jimmy Butler?

                                          (Zhong Zi/NBAE/Getty Images) 

The Minnesota Timberwolves are having their best season in recent memory, currently sitting third in the Western Conference standings with a 38-26 record. A major reason for their resurgence has been the addition of Jimmy Butler, who they acquired from the Chicago Bulls during the NBA Draft. Butler has been averaging 22.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game and has provided a veteran presence that the Timberwolves have been missing.

Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, Butler has undergone surgery to repair a meniscal tear in his right knee, sidelining him for the next 4-6 weeks according to Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports. With Butler possibly out until the playoffs start, the big question is whether or not the Timberwolves can survive until he comes back and not slip too much in the standings.

Jimmy Butler is expected to undergo surgery in coming days and could return within 4-to-6 weeks, league sources tell Yahoo. Final timetable will be set after procedure.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 25, 2018

The teams that are behind the Timberwolves are the Spurs (.5 games back), Pelicans (2 games back), Trail Blazers (2 games back), Thunder (2 games back), Nuggets (3 games back), and Clippers (4 games back). It is hard to see a scenario in which the Timberwolves don't make the playoffs, but it is conceivable that they slip to as far as the 8th seed. The gap between the 3rd and 8th spot is only 3 games, which means things are very tight.

The key to the Timberwolves' surviving Butler's injury is really for Andrew Wiggins and Jamal Crawford to step up at the wing positions. Jeff Teague is doing a good job running the point guard position and Karl-Anthony Towns is anchoring the post just fine. But, whether or not Wiggins and Crawford can make up for Butler's production out on the wing remains to be seen. Personally, I think they should be able to since both of them know how to score. Crawford can still get buckets even in this later stage of his career and Wiggins is emerging into an elite wing in his own right. Offensively those two guys should be able to pick up the slack.

As far as defense is concerned, that's probably the bigger concern. Wiggins is an elite wing on both ends of the floor, but the Timberwolves really don't have any one else who can replace Butler's tenacity on defense. The Timberwolves will really need to do a good job of playing team defense and finding ways to mask Butler's absence out on the wing. Jeff Teague will also need to play an expanded role defensively and be a little bit more aggressive when it comes to disrupting passing lanes and forcing turnovers.

The bottom line is the Timberwolves can survive without Jimmy Butler, but it's not going to be easy. When you are a team that hasn't been in this kind of position before, it's tough to then lose your best player right as you head into the final stretch of the season. It'll be interesting to see if they can hang onto their spot until Butler comes back and whether or not any of the teams behind them will be able to capitalize on their vulnerability.

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Skyhook Sunday: Locking up Andrew Wiggins helps ensure a bright future for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Earlier this week, the Minnesota Timberwolves inked Andrew Wiggins to a five-year contract extension worth approximately $148M, which is the designated rookie scale maximum. Since being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kevin Love, Wiggins has lived up to the hype, averaging 20.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game during his first three seasons, missing only one game. Wiggins' durability and consistency have earned him this extension and in the process has helped to ensure that the Timberwolves have a bright future.

What's especially exciting for the Timberwolves is the roster they've put around Wiggins. Karl-Anthony Towns is one of the best young big men in the league, Jeff Teague is one of the most underrated point guards, and Jimmy Butler is one of the top slashing wings in the game. The Timberwolves should be a playoff team this season and eventually evolve into one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference with more seasoning.

Next season, the Timberwolves will have the chance to extend Towns as well, which means they could have almost $300M invested in two players. While that is a lot of money to invest in two guys who are yet to play in a playoff game, both guys have proven to be worthy of such an investment. They've played up to their expectations and been good representatives of the organization both on and off the court.

Assuming the Timberwolves lock up Towns as well, they're going to have two of the best young players in the league for the next several seasons, giving them plenty of chances to get to the playoffs, win a series, and get the seasoning that is needed to make them a championship contender. While they haven't been a very successful franchise over the years, the foundation for success is finally being put into place. They've drafted the right people, they've brought in the right free agents, and they've trusted the process. It's all finally starting to come together for them.

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NBALord.com Podcast: Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins get contract extensions

On this week's episode of the NBALord.com Podcast, I address the contract extensions given to Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins. I also talk about the Golden State Warriors. Click here to listen to the podcast.





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Skyhook Sunday: What does landing Jimmy Butler mean for the Minnesota Timberwolves?

The Minnesota Timberwolves stole the show on draft night by landing Jimmy Butler in a trade with the Chicago Bulls. The Timberwolves traded Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine, and the #7 pick (Lauri Markkanen) for Jimmy Butler and the #16 pick (Justin Patton). Butler has already arrived in Minnesota and appears to be very excited to begin this new chapter of his career, reuniting with Tom Thibodeau.

Can't wait to get to work. #PowerOfThePack pic.twitter.com/nSY902FVnp

— Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) June 25, 2017

Butler joins a talented core in Minnesota that consists of Ricky Rubio, Andrew Wiggins, Gorgui Dieng, and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Timberwolves have been building a talented young group for the past few seasons, but they have lacked an established superstar that can take them to that next level. By trading for Butler, they appear to finally have such a superstar.

A lot of people are scratching their heads about what the Chicago Bulls were thinking to make this trade happen. Butler is coming off his best season in the league, averaging 23.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. He turns 28 next season and will be entering his seventh season in the NBA. He is just starting to enter his prime. To trade him away for a point guard coming off a torn ACL, a point guard who is looking like a bust, and a rookie looks to be very foolish.

In addition to being a superstar, what makes Jimmy Butler a great fit for the Timberwolves is how easily he slides into their lineup. He can play at the shooting guard position alongside Andrew Wiggins at small forward, creating a deadly one-two punch out on the wing. His presence doesn't affect the minutes of any of their core players, enhancing what they already have.

The Timberwolves have suddenly gone from a team that might make the playoffs in a couple of seasons to a team that could make the playoffs next year. They are no longer a team that you need to worry about in the future, they are a team that you need to worry about right now.

Also, with a team like the Utah Jazz potentially on the cusp of losing one of their biggest pieces to free agency (Gordon Hayward), we could see a significant shake up in the Western Conference. While I don't see the Timberwolves contending for a championship next season, I do see them approaching that territory. They've accelerated their rebuilding process by at least two and maybe even three years.

After an arduous rebuilding process and more than a decade of losing basketball, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally have a roster that the Twin Cities can get excited about. The talent is there, the experience is there, and the motivation is there. They just need to go out and get it done.

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Wednesday Windmill: Critically assessing the Minnesota Timberwolves new logo

This week, the Minnesota Timberwolves unveiled their new logo for the future. Before I dive into my playoff coverage, I figured I would quickly address the Timberwolves' new look.

Upon first glance, I wasn't a big fan of the logo. It reminded me of some spin off of the Timberwolves' SB Nation logo and I just didn't like it. But upon giving it some more thought, I actually like the logo a lot. It's sleek, it plays off of the Timberwolves' most recent alternate logo and utilizes the colors of previous Timberwolves logos. The howling wolf is really cool and I like the look of the basketball behind it with a green star, which makes a connection to Minnesota being far north, hence the name of their first NHL team, Minnesota North Stars.

For those that don't know, I spent time in Minneapolis and St. Paul doing missionary work for my church and so I got to know the Twin Cities area really well. I used to bike past the Target Center every day and grew to really love the community. I think the logo embodies a lot of what the state of Minnesota is about: Alone, strong, united, and cold; a bit off the grid with a culture that is unique and special. Timberwolves fans should fully embrace this logo and look to the future of Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins with a new found brightness of hope.






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Skyhook Sunday: Previewing the NBA's Christmas Day action

When I think of Christmas Day, I have to confess that I first think of NBA basketball. As a Christian, this may not be the best thing to admit, but I comfort myself in knowing that Christmas Day derives from a pagan holiday that celebrates the winter solstice. It makes me feel more justified in associating Christmas Day with NBA hoops. Anyways, with that admission of guilt now out in the open, let me quickly dissect the five NBA games that will be played on Christmas Day.

Boston Celtics (17-13) at New York Knicks (16-13) (12:00 PM EST on ESPN): The first game of Christmas Day will the Boston Celtics at the New York Knicks. The Celtics come into this game as the 3rd overall seed in the Eastern Conference while the Knicks are the 5th overall seed just half of a game behind them. From a playoff positioning perspective, this game definitely matters. With the Knicks being at home and being behind in the standings, this game matters a little bit more to them. For the first time in a little while anyways, the Knicks are playing on Christmas Day while also being relevant in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

If the Knicks want to win this game, Kristaps Porzingis (19.9 points and 7.6 rebounds) and Carmelo Anthony (22.5 points) need to have big days while also not allowing Isaiah Thomas (27.0 points) to go off.

As for the Celtics, they'll want to see if they can get more guys than just Isaiah Thomas going. If they could get a big game from Al Horford and maybe have rookie Jaylen Brown score in double figures, that would be huge.

Overall, this game should be a fun game to start off the holiday. It's a classic Eastern Conference battle with playoff implications, which is always a good combination to have in any game.

Golden State Warriors (27-4) at Cleveland Cavaliers (22-6) (2:30 PM EST on ABC): One of the best parts of Christmas Day is that over the past few years, it's always included an NBA Finals rematch. This time, it's the Cleveland Cavaliers who are playing on Christmas Day as the defending NBA champions. A major storyline in this game is the absence of J.R. Smith, who will miss the next 12-14 weeks due to needing surgery on his right thumb. It will be interesting to see how the Cavaliers play without him in such a big game.

If the Cavaliers want to win this game, they'll want to get really quality production from their big three of Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, and of course LeBron James. In addition, the Cavaliers will really want to set the tone early and establish themselves as the defending champions. By adding Kevin Durant the Warriors are a different team than last year, but the Cavaliers can still remind everybody that they are the defending NBA championship team by setting the tone early.

As for the Warriors, they need to get out to an early lead with Kevin Durant playing very well. If the Warriors can get out to an early lead with Kevin Durant playing well, not only will they get the win, but they'll also send a message to the rest of the NBA that this year is different than last year and that they are the odds on favorite to win it all.

Overall, this game will be a fun one to watch. Seeing Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Stephen Curry go up against LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love will be really exciting and also informative as it will give us a window into what our likely NBA Finals matchup will be.

Chicago Bulls (14-15) at San Antonio Spurs (24-6) (5:00 PM EST on ABC): The San Antonio Spurs, led by Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Pau Gasol are all playing fantastic basketball right now, putting tons of pressure on the Golden State Warriors. As for the Chicago Bulls, they are a sub .500 team that is making me look like a fool for picking them to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

In my book, this game is all about the Bulls. The Spurs we know are a contender and will be there late in the season come playoff time. But the Chicago Bulls we are yet to be convinced of as a serious contending team. If Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade, and Rajon Rondo are looking for an opportunity to jump start the Bulls' season, Christmas Day against the Spurs isn't a bad place to start. If the Bulls can find a way to get this win, this could be the beginning of something very good.  

Minnesota Timberwolves (9-20) at Oklahoma City Thunder (18-12) (8:00 PM EST on ESPN): In my opinion it's somewhat of a puzzle of as to why this game was scheduled for Christmas Day. On the one hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves are one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA to watch and the Oklahoma City Thunder likewise play a very exciting brand of basketball. On the other hand, the Thunder are a much more mature and seasoned team while the Timberwolves are still young and figuring it all out. In other words, the Thunder should blow the doors off the Timberwolves, not making for a very exciting game.

While the game itself may not be very close, what will be fun is to watch Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn of the Timberwolves throw alley-oops to each other and throw down nasty dunks in transition while Russell Westbrook plays like a human video game, getting another triple-double.

If you are looking for lots of dunks and possible Sports Center Top Ten moments, this game might be the best game to watch on Christmas Day. But, if you are looking for a competitive game that is close in the 4th quarter, this game is probably the last game you'd want to watch.

Los Angeles Clippers (22-9) at Los Angeles Lakers (11-22) (10:30 PM EST on ESPN): I always find Clippers-Lakers games to be fun since I find it strangely entertaining to watch two teams from the same city face each other. I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by inner-city rivalries in sports. It's like when I was a little kid, my brother and I used to go to the local amusement park just to watch the roller coasters. I don't know why we found it so enthralling, but we did nonetheless.

Anyways, aside from this being the "Battle of Los Angeles", this game ought to be a snoozer. The only thing that could make this game close is that Blake Griffin is out multiple weeks after undergoing right knee surgery, so his absence gives the Lakers a flicker of hope to win. Still, even with Griffin out, the Clippers still have Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford, and DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers are still the vastly superior team and should win rather easily.

If you haven't yet watched Brandon Ingram, the Lakers' first round pick (#2 overall), play this season, then that will be an added bonus for you. Brandon Ingram has tons of upside and so watching him play in his first Christmas Day game in the NBA could be kind of fun. Plus, D'Angelo Russell is making strides, averaging 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. So, much like the Thunder-Timberwolves game, if you are interested in watching a competitive basketball game, this is not the game for you to watch. If you are wanting to check in on the future of the Los Angeles Lakers and see young talent on the floor, then this game will be fun for you to watch regardless of the outcome.


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Saturday Slam: Look out for the Minnesota Timberwolves

     While some lottery-bound teams like the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Orleans Pelicans are crashing and burning to end the season, the Minnesota Timberwolves are actually starting to find their groove and build some momentum going into next season. The 28-52 Timberwolves have won 6 of their last 10 games including 3 straight road wins over the Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, and Portland Trail Blazers.

     The win in Golden State took the basketball world by surprise on Tuesday. The Warriors were favored by 14.5 points and looked to steamroll the Timberwolves as they go about trying to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' record for most wins in a regular season. Instead, the Timberwolves came from behind to stun the Warriors in overtime on their home floor by a final score of 124-117. Shabazz Muhammad led the way for the Timberwolves with 35 points and 6 rebounds while Andrew Wiggins finished with 32 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Other notable Timberwolves performers were Karl-Anthony Towns with 20 points and 12 rebounds and Zach LaVine with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists.

     If the Minnesota Timberwolves had to pick a way to have their coming out party, winning on the road in Oracle Arena as the Golden State Warriors are chasing history is probably the way to do it. While the Minnesota Timberwolves will once again be in the NBA Draft Lottery, their win on Tuesday put the basketball world on notice. The Minnesota Timberwolves are coming and they aren't afraid of anybody.

     The Minnesota Timberwolves' biggest weakness is inexperience and youth, but very much like the Utah Jazz have started to build around a talented young core, the Minnesota Timberwolves are as well. Only, I actually like the Timberwolves' core even better. Unlike Gordon Hayward, Andrew Wiggins has the chance to be the number-one guy on a championship team. As for Karl-Anthony Towns, he could be the next premier big man of the NBA.

     All in all, the Minnesota Timberwolves are on the right track to being a very competitive in the NBA for a long time. They have youth and all-star level talent. Look at them as a caterpillar in a cocoon that isn't yet a butterfly. They are in the process of becoming something special, but they just need more time to grow and develop.

Wednesday Windmill: Can the Timberwolves seriously make the playoffs?

     Earlier this week, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie center Karl-Anthony Towns, the #1 overall pick in June's NBA draft, expressed his confidence in his team's ability to make the playoffs. Knowing how terrible the Timberwolves were last season, it seems like Towns' words are nothing more than the words of a naïve rookie unaware of how difficult the Western Conference is.

     But while that is all probably true, we would be foolish to sleep on this Minnesota team given the talent that they have acquired. Karl-Anthony Towns has the potential to be one of the best big men in the NBA, Andrew Wiggins could be the next superstar of the league, Ricky Rubio is one of the better pass-first point guards in the NBA, and Zach LaVine has so much potential bottled up inside of him that it's simply frightening. In addition, Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic form a very nice frontcourt duo. Dieng in particular has the chance to be really good as a defensive big man to go along with Towns, who is much more of an offensive talent than a defensive talent.

     So, with all of that being said, where does this leave us in the discussion of the Timberwolves' playoff chances? Honestly, I don't see them making the playoffs just because the Western Conference is going to be really stacked this year. The Utah Jazz, a team further along in their rebuilding process, probably doesn't make the playoffs either.

     The only team that missed the playoffs in the West that should be expected to make the playoffs is the Oklahoma City Thunder. If they are healthy, then they probably steal a playoff spot from somebody (I'm thinking the Mavericks), but not even that is a guarantee. This of course means that the Timberwolves will once again be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

     But this shouldn't make us overlook the Timberwolves. They are finally building a team with the chance to be really good. It's just going to take more than one season for them to break through. Karl Anthony-Towns' confidence isn't for nothing. He has good reason to be confident in the team that drafted him. It's just that he isn't going to see success as quickly as he would like.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord to follow my NBA updates 

Daily Dunks: 3/30-4/5

                                                 (Credit: Andy Melton. Click here for source) 

This is my Daily Dunks page for March 30, 2015 through  April 5, 2015. Throughout the week this page will be updated with the latest news and scores from across the NBA until a new Daily Dunks page is created for the following week.

Monday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Rockets guard Patrick Beverley has undergone season-ending surgery on his left wrist (Click here for details).

#2. Texas center Myles Turner, Georgia State shooting guard R.J. Hunter, and  UNLV guard Rashad Vaughn are leaving for the NBA draft.

#3. Chris Mullin is leaving the Kings to take the head coaching job at St. John's (Click here for details).

#4. Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic (ankle) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#5. Bulls point guard Derrick Rose has returned to full-contact practice. Still no timetable for when he plays in a game again (Click here for details).

#6. The Trail Blazers signed guard Tim Frazier for the remainder of the season (Click here for details).

#7. Kings forward Rudy Gay is out indefinitely with a concussion and won't play on Wednesday (Click here for details).

#8. The Trail Blazers have clinched a playoff spot.

#9. Andrew Wiggins and Rudy Gobert had some fun battles above the rim (Click here for a video)

#10. Warriors point guard Stephen Curry and Nets center Brook Lopez won player of the week honors for last week (Click here for details).

Monday's NBA Final Scores: 

Jazz 104 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 97 Kings 83. Lakers 113 76ers 111 (OT). Celtics 116 Hornets 104. Hawks 101 Bucks 88. Raptors 99 Rockets 96. Trail Blazers 109 Suns 86.

Tuesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Suns signed shooting guard Jerel McNeal to a 10-day contract and released point guard A.J. Price (Click here for details).

#2. The Bucks may have a new logo (Click here for details).

#3. Spurs guard Patty Mills has been warned for flopping against the Grizzlies (Click here for details).

#4. Jazz rookie guard Rodney Hood has a concussion. He is out indefinitely (Click here for details).

#5.The Grizzlies recalled Jarnell Stokes and Russ Smith from the D-League (Click here for details).

#6. Kevin Durant underwent successful bone graft surgery on his foot. His out 4-6 months (Click here for details).

#7. Anthony Davis says James Harden should be MVP (Click here for details).

#8. Phil Jackson says Knicks fans should remain optimistic (Click here for details).

#9. Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard has changed agencies (Click here for details).

#10. Clippers power forward Blake Griffin 40 points and 12 rebounds.

Tuesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 110 Clippers 106. Pistons 105 Hawks 95. Nets 111 Pacers 106. Spurs 95 Heat 81.

Wednesday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (knee) returned to the lineup. He had 17 points and 3 rebounds.

#2.The Kings signed center Sim Bhullar to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#3. Celtics shooting guard Evan Turner, Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, and Kings center DeMarcus Cousins all had triple-doubles.

#4. Rockets shooting guard James Harden scored 51 points, a career high.

#5. The Lakers officially waived Steve Nash and signed Jabari Brown to a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#6. David Blatt and Steve Kerr have won coach of the month honors for March (Click here for details).

#7. Heat point guard Shabazz Napier is done for the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery (Click here for details).

#8. The Mavericks have a ceiling when it comes to how much they'll pay Rajon Rondo to keep him around (Click here for details).

#9. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 30 points and 16 rebounds.

#10. 76ers point guard Ish Smith scored 23 points.

Wednesday's NBA Final Scores: 

Raptors 113 Timberwolves 99. Jazz 98 Nuggets 84. Spurs 103 Magic 91. Wizards 106 76ers 93. Hornets 102 Pistons 78. Celtics 100 Pacers 87. Nets 100 Knicks 98. Rockets 115 Kings 111. Bucks 95 Bulls 91. Mavericks 135 Thunder 131. Clippers 126 Trail Blazers 122. Pelicans 113 Lakers 92.

Thursday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic needs surgery on his Achilles (Click here for details).

#2. More details of the Bucks' new logo have emerged (Click here for details).

#3. Trail Blazers small forward Dorrell Wright is out indefinitely with a left hand fracture (Click here for details).

#4. The Lakers signed guard Dwight Buycks to a 10-day contract (Click here for details).

#5. The Lakers are expected to pick up power forward Jordan Hill's $9M option for next season (Click here for details).

#6. Talks of Billy Donovan leaving Florida for the NBA are heating up (Click here for details).

#7. Warriors small forward Harrison Barnes hit the game-winning shot to defeat the Suns (Click here for a video).

#8. Suns center Alex Len is out at least one week after undergoing surgery on his broken nose (Click here for details).

#9. Lakers shooting guard Wayne Ellington is done for the season due to a separated shoulder (Click here for details).

#10. Rockets forward Josh Smith had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Thursday's NBA Final Scores: 

Warriors 107 Suns 106. Cavaliers 114 Heat 88. Rockets 108 Mavericks 101.

Friday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Hawks signed forward Austin Daye for the rest of the season. It's a multi-year deal (Click here for details).

#2. Trail Blazers forward Dorrell Wright (hand) is expected to be out 4-6 weeks (Click here for details).

#3. Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (knee) is questionable for Saturday. Likely to go on Sunday (Click here for details).

#4. Clippers shooting guard Jamal Crawford (calf) has returned to practice and is targeting a Tuesday return (Click here for details).

#5. Celtics forward Jared Sullinger made a surprise return. He played 3 minutes (Click here for details on his status).

#6. The Nuggets reportedly wanted to deal Ty Lawson at the deadline (Click here for details).

#7. Magic power forward Nikola Vucevic had 37 points and 17 rebounds.

#8. Grizzlies small forward Jeff Green had 22 points and 5 assists.

#9. Wizards small forward Otto Porter, Jr. had 17 points.

#10. Knicks guard Ricky Ledo had 21 points and 9 rebounds.

Friday's NBA Final Scores: 

Magic 97 Timberwolves 84. Grizzlies 100 Thunder 92. Pacers 93 Hornets 74. Wizards 101 Knicks 87. Bucks 110 Celtics 101. Nets 114 Raptors 109. Bulls 88 Pistons 82. Spurs 123 Nuggets 93. Pelicans 101 Kings 95. Trail Blazers 107 Lakers 77.

Saturday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. Paul George will return on Sunday (Click here for details).

#2. The Hornets may shut down Al Jefferson (knee) for the season (Click here for details).

#3. Lakers shooting guard Nick Young is likely done for the season (Click here for details).

#4. Mark Jackson's MVP vote goes to James Harden. Stephen Curry is surprised (Click here for details).

#5. Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio (ankle) is done for the season (Click here for details).

#6. Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love will return on Sunday (Click here for details).

#7. Jazz rookie shooting guard Rodney Hood was cleared to play on Saturday after having a concussion (Click here for details).

#8. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has set the NBA record for most wins by a rookie head coach (Click here for details).

#9. Marcus Smart hit the game-winning shot for the Celtics in OT, giving the Celtics the #8 seed in the East for the moment (Click here for a video).

#10. Clippers shooting guard J.J. Redick had 25 points.

Saturday's NBA Final Scores: 

Wizards 92 Grizzlies 83. Warriors 123 Mavericks 110. Suns 87 Jazz 85. Hornets 92 76ers 91. Hawks 131 Nets 99. Pistons 99 Heat 98. Celtics 117 Raptors 116 (OT). Magic 97 Bucks 90. Clippers 107 Nuggets 92. Trail Blazers 99 Pelicans 90.

Sunday's Daily Dunks: 

#1. The Wizards are signing guard Will Bynum for the rest of the season (Click here for details).

#2.The Nets signed Earl Clark to a two-year deal with a team option for next season (Click here for details).

#3. Derrick Rose could return this upcoming week (Click here for details).

#4. In his return, Pacers forward Paul George had 13 points and 2 rebounds.

#5. Warriors guard Shaun Livingston was suspended for Sunday's game due to punching Dirk Nowitzki in the groin (Click here for details).

#6. Rockets shooting guard James Harden had 41 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against the Thunder.

#7. Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook had 41 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists against the Rockets.

#8. Thunder center Enes Kanter had 21 points and 17 rebounds against the Rockets.

#9. Cavaliers small forward LeBron James had 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Bulls.

#10. Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving had 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists against the Bulls.

Sunday's NBA Final Scores: 

Spurs 107 Warriors 92. Jazz 101 Kings 95. Rockets 115 Thunder 112. Cavaliers 99 Bulls 94. Pacers 112 Heat 89. Knicks 101 76ers 91. Clippers 106 Lakers 78.


---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord for NBA news 

2014-15 Northwest Division Preview

My season previews continue to march along. This time I stop at the Northwest Division of the Western Conference, home to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Denver Nuggets.

                                                    Portland Trail Blazers (57)

     The Portland Trail Blazers once again look prime for another competitive season in the Western Conference. The dynamic point guard/power forward duo of Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge should be even better this season which means that the Trail Blazers themselves should be better. In addition, due to the injury of Kevin Durant and the impending fall of the Thunder in the regular season standings, I expect the Trail Blazers to step up and win the Northwest Division.
     The only real knock on the Trail Blazers is that they didn't add anybody of significance to their roster. They lost point guard Mo Williams to the Timberwolves and added center Chris Kaman. Kaman still has some gas left in the tank and should be able to give them around 10 points and 6 rebounds per game off the bench, which is solid production for a reserve, but nothing to write home about.
     One player who might be worth keeping an eye on is Allen Crabbe, a second year shooting guard out of the University of California, Berkeley, which is where I go to school. Crabbe was an early second round pick in the 2013 draft and figures to be a key member of this team in the future. If Crabbe has a breakout year of sorts, that would be a huge boost to this Trail Blazers team.
     The Trail Blazers have the making of a team that should win the Northwest Division and clinch home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They might even clinch the #2 seed. Does that mean I think they threaten to reach the NBA Finals?
     Perhaps, but the playoffs is a different ball game. I expect the Thunder to be lurking with a healthy Kevin Durant come playoff time and I would have to pick the Thunder as more likely to come out of the West even if the Trail Blazers had home court advantage over them. Plus, the Spurs are a vastly superior team to the Trail Blazers at this point.
     But with that all being said, that doesn't mean the Trail Blazers won't be dangerous and it doesn't mean they aren't contenders. If I am picking a team to win a division, then I have to consider that team a "contender".

                                                        

                                                 Oklahoma City Thunder (54)
   
     The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a significant blow when they found out that Kevin Durant would miss the first 8-12 weeks of the regular season with a Jones fracture to his foot. However, the injury to Durant doesn't mean that the Thunder are heading to the cellar or out of the championship picture.
     The main reason why is because they have Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka to carry the load until Kevin Durant gets back. Westbrook and Ibaka couldn't carry the load for the full season, but they can do it through Christmastime.
     The biggest question mark I have about this Thunder team is their head coach Scott Brooks. I'm still not convinced he's the guy to lead them to the promised land. The team has been wise to keep him unless they can get a really good replacement for him, but at some point the team does have to consider going in a different direction if they cannot win a championship.
     As good as the Spurs are, the Thunder should be able to compete with them and take them out just by looking at their players. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are arguably the two best players in the entire Western Conference. That means that they should be favored to win every playoff series they have in the Western Conference playoffs.
     Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich out-coached Scott Brooks in the Western Conference Finals last year and that made the difference in the series. The Thunder obviously cannot go out and get Gregg Popovich, but they can go out and try to find a different coach to help close that gap. Avery Johnson, George Karl, Jerry Sloan, and Doug Collins are all available coaches who I think would take up the chance to coach this team if asked.  Lastly, I as I mentioned in my preview of the Trail Blazers, I don't think the Thunder win the Northwest division, but I still think they are the biggest threat to the Spurs in the Western Conference.

                                               Denver Nuggets (41)

     The Denver Nuggets should be improved with the return of JaVale McGee and Danilo Gallinari, but even with them healthy, they will struggle to crack .500. The biggest problem for the Nuggets is that the Western Conference is really deep and they still lack a real definitive star. Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson, and Arron Afflalo are all on the cusp of being the kind of star that the Nuggets need, but I'm not sure any of those three guys gets there this season.
     Arron Afflalo is coming off his best season with the Magic, averaging 18.2 points per game; Ty Lawson is coming off his best season with the Nuggets, averaging 17.6 points and 8.8 assists per game; and Kenneth Faried is also coming off his best season with the Nuggets, averaging 13.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
     The main thing to understand about this Nuggets team is that they are building themselves into a team that will be able to compete in the playoffs, but they won't get there this season. The key thing for their head coach Brian Shaw to do is get them to continue to play unselfishly and as a team. They have the depth and the breadth of talent to give a lot of teams trouble, but they lack a legitimate superstar to take over games in the clutch. If Lawson, Afflalo, or Faried can become a legitimate superstar this season, the Nuggets may be looking at winning around 50 games. But at the moment, I see them as a .500 team.

                                                  Minnesota Timberwolves (36)

     The Minnesota Timberwolves are in for a really interesting and exciting season. They traded Kevin Love to the Cavaliers and got back Andrew Wiggins, Thaddeus Young, and Anthony Bennett who all should form a nice young core to build around for the future. In addition, they drafted Zach LaVine out of UCLA and Glen Robinson III out of Michigan while also picking up Mo Williams. The team itself looks to be promising and certainly capable of entertaining fans across the NBA.
     The most important player on this team in my opinion is Gorgui Dieng since he has the potential to make the Timberwolves forget about Kevin Love for good. As a big man he can score, rebound, and play defense which is Kevin Love's biggest weakness. If he can come close to scoring and rebounding like Kevin Love while also playing fantastic defense, Dieng will be an upgrade from Love in the post.
     The other really important player on this team is Ricky Rubio who is reportedly on the cusp of a 4 year, $52M extension. If he gets that extension, he better produce. He can pass the ball and defend really well, but his shot is still terrible. If he isn't able to score with more regularity and improve his shot, he could end of hurting the Timberwolves and their overall growth as opposed to helping them.
     Overall, I like this Timberwolves team. They have a solid pass first point guard in Ricky Rubio, a budding superstar in Andrew Wiggins, a really nice shooting guard in Kevin Martin, a solid front court with Gorgui Dieng and Nikola Pekovic, and some nice reserves. The problem they have is similar to the Nuggets: The West is really really tough and they are young.
     However, unlike the Nuggets, the Timberwolves have good reason to believe they have a future superstar on their hands in Andrew Wiggins. They just need to be patient and let him develop without expecting too much from him right away.

                                               

                              

                                             Utah Jazz (30) 

    

      The Utah Jazz are also in for an interesting season, but I'm not sure I would call it "exciting". They have a lot of young pieces with Trey Burke at point guard, Dante Exum as a combo guard, Alec Burks at shooting guard, Gordon Hayward at small forward, and Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter in the paint. 

     All of these players are expected to be really good in the future, but right now they are still a work in progress. The concern for the Jazz is that we've been saying this for the last three years, and it's time that these young guys step up. Namely Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Alec Burks. 

     The Jazz front office is doing all they can to put together a competitive team, but now it's time for the players to show that they are worth the investment. Hayward especially has a lot of pressure on him since he signed a lucrative max contract this summer to stay with the team. The Jazz didn't pay him that money to be a role player. They paid him that money to be a leader and a star on this team. 

     Similar expectations are also on Derrick Favors, who many have compared to a young Karl Malone.  So far, he isn't looking like the second coming of the Mailman. He looks like the second coming of Joe Smith, only worse. Smith at least had a couple of really productive seasons in the NBA before becoming an average NBA power forward. Favors is yet to have one. 

     The good news about Favors is that he keeps getting better. He averaged 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds last season which was an upgrade from the year before in which he averaged 9.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Still, he hasn't yet backed up the hype. He needs to take an even bigger jump this season and average around 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. 

     Utah's rookie head coach Quin Snyder will have his work cut out for him and have his label as a "player development" coach put to the test. He has a lot of interesting pieces to work with, but it isn't at all clear how they should fit together. Look for the Jazz to be improved from last season, but nothing close to being a playoff team. 

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

Saturday Slam: Are the Timberwolves better off with Andrew Wiggins?

The Minnesota Timberwolves officially traded Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday with the Philadelphia 76ers as a third team involved in the trade. The Timberwolves got Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett from the Cavaliers and Thaddeus Young from the 76ers. In addition, the Timberwolves also acquired a trade exception. The 76ers got Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Alexey Shved from the Timberwolves and a 2015 first round pick from the Cavaliers.

Obviously, the biggest winner of this trade is the Cleveland Cavaliers since they now have solidified themselves as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference with LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love as their "Big Three". The Minnesota Timberwolves made off very well in this trade, too and perhaps may end up being the winners of the trade should Andrew Wiggins reach his full potential.

Putting aside the fact that Kevin Love was going to leave in free agency and that a trade was necessary, I think it is interesting to ask if the Timberwolves are actually better off as a result of this trade. While it is a disappointment to lose the best power forward in the NBA, getting back a young player who could lead you to a championship in 5-10 years makes things a lot easier to swallow. In addition, when you look at the other young talent they got with Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young, it starts to look more and more like the Timberwolves just committed a high-end level robbery.

Andrew Wiggins could wind up being the best player in the NBA in five to ten years, Thaddeus Young is a budding all-star forward, and Anthony Bennett could likewise prove himself to be an all-star caliber player in a few seasons. Plus, when you factor in the fact that they have Gorgui Dieng as a legitimate presence in the post that actually defends better than Kevin Love while also possessing a fantastic pass-first point guard in Ricky Rubio, the Timberwolves suddenly don't look so bad after all. As a matter of fact, they look like a team that may not even miss the presence of Kevin Love,  especially since they weren't going to win a championship with him anyways.

Obviously, only time will tell if this trade actually works out for the Timberwolves. Perhaps Andrew Wiggins doesn't live up to expectations, Anthony Bennett continues to struggle, and the rest of the young players will also fail to reach their full potential. But assuming that things go reasonably well for all of these young players, it looks like the Timberwolves did very well with this trade and likely are better off as a result.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord 

11 must see games of the 2014-15 NBA season

If you are a die hard NBA fan like me, you are pumped that the 2014-15 NBA regular season schedule is out and you are also probably eying that Pelicans/Magic game on October 28th to tip off the season. If you are more of a casual fan who enjoys the playoffs and only a handful of regular season games that have big stories like LeBron going back to Miami, you have come to the right place! I will list eleven games you must watch during the 2014-15 NBA regular season because unlike most lists, my lists go to eleven! (Note: this is taking the place of my Wednesday Windmill for the week)

1.  Tuesday, October 28, 2014---Dallas Mavericks @ San Antonio Spurs (8:00 PM ET on TNT) 
As is fitting, opening night of the 2014-15 NBA season will feature the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs with a championship ring ceremony! The Spurs deserve to be slotted as the feature game on opening night and they have a quality opponent in the Mavericks to face them. Last season, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks took the Spurs to a Game 7 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, and I'm sure they will be eager to spoil the Spurs' opening night as some form of revenge. If you are looking for a fun and competitive game early on in the NBA season, this will be a game to watch.

2. Thursday, October 30, 2014--- New York Knicks @ Cleveland Cavaliers ( 8:00 PM ET on TNT)  If you follow the NBA at all, you know that LeBron James left the Miami Heat to return home to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers. If you want to see LeBron's first game back in Cleveland as a Cavalier, then you will not want to miss this game.

3. Wednesday, November 5, 2014--- Los Angeles Clippers @ Golden State Warriors (10:30 PM ET on ESPN)  You should watch all four Clippers-Warriors games this year because all of them are sure to be intense and filled with high drama. Expect Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan to throw down 100 dunks and also expect Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson to knock down 100 threes during these four games. Since this is the first of those four, this makes the list as one of the eleven games to watch this year (Note: Clippers and Warriors also will play on Christmas Day) .

4. Friday, November 14, 2014---San Antonio Spurs @ Los Angeles Lakers (10:00 PM ET on ESPN).  If you want an early read on how good the Lakers should be, this will be a good game to watch. If they have any chance of being relevant, they will at least play the Spurs close at home on ESPN.

5. Monday, November 17,  2014---Chicago Bulls @ Los Angeles Clippers (10:30 PM ET on NBA TV)
If you want an early look at the Bulls with Derrick Rose back while also watching them face a fun team, then it can't get much better than watching the Bulls take on the Clippers. Also, Pau Gasol will be making a return to Staples Center as a member of the Bulls.

6. Wednesday, November 19, 2014 --- San Antonio Spurs @ Cleveland Cavaliers (7:00 PM ET on ESPN) This is a must see game because it is LeBron's first game of the year against the Spurs who knocked him out in the NBA Finals last season. Also, this game will be an early test for the Cavaliers who are favored by many to win the Eastern Conference thanks to the addition of Kevin Love as well as LeBron James.

7.  Christmas Day---Watch all of the games, but if you have to pick one, don't miss Cleveland Cavaliers @ Miami Heat (5:00 PM ET on ABC) When I say watch all of the games on Christmas Day, I'm being completely serious. The NBA has hijacked Christmas, and I'm totally fine with that. All the games on Christmas will be wonderful presents for me, but Cavaliers @ Heat is the most interesting game because it is LeBron James' return to Miami.

8. Wednesday, January 7, 2015--- Phoenix Suns @ Minnesota Timberwolves (9:30 PM ET on ESPN). The Suns are a fun team to watch, but all eyes will be on the Timberwolves with their franchise centerpiece Andrew Wiggins, who went #1 in the 2014 NBA draft. If you want to see how Wiggins looks now that he'll have had several NBA games under his belt, turn this game on.

9. Thursday,  January 15, 2015--- New York Knicks @ Milwaukee Bucks (3:00 PM ET on NBA TV). If you want to watch the #2 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft Jabari Parker and the Bucks play on national television, there aren't many options. This is the best option because it is against the Knicks who will be an interesting team to follow this season. If you are out at work, DVR this one. It should be fun.

10. Wednesday, April 1, 2015--- Brooklyn Nets @ New York Knicks (7:30 PM ET on NBA TV).  February is the most boring month of NBA basketball with the exception of All-Star Weekend due to none of the games having any real meaning. As for March, everybody is rightfully tuned in to the NCAA Tournament. But once April comes around, the NBA regains momentum with the playoffs in sight. The Knicks and Nets are creating a fun rivalry out in New York and this game could have some playoff implications.

11. Wednesday, April 8, 2015---  Toronto Raptors @ Charlotte Hornets (7:00 PM ET on ESPN).  This one I know seems like an odd game to make the list, but hear me out. At this time of year, you want to see games that mean something and are entertaining. This game should provide both of those needs for you. The Hornets and Raptors will be in the middle of a playoff chase at this time of year and they are both fun teams to watch. Plus, watching this game ensures that you will have seen the new look Charlotte Hornets.

---Ben Parker: follow me on twitter @nba_lord